Hi!I am new to this forum, but it seems the right place to ask for help.I just found a Bagheera X -80 to restore. Of many things I need are new driveshafts. Iīve come across 50 some new driveshafts for Simca/Talbot for the models 1100 -73, 1100 74-07/77, 1307 1508 -77, 1510 aut-79, 1100 Rancho 06/73-07/77, Talbot 1307 1308 -07/77 and Horizon 08/81. And one with the parts number 240511/022-238.I wonder if any of these driveshafts fit my Bagheera X 1980 X6552 AX555...I would appreciate any help.Lasse

There were 3 types of driveshafts on Bagheera's- the early 35 mm - Since 1976, the first type of 40 mmAnd somewhere in 1978 or 79, the second type of 40 mm This to accomodate the change of wheel bearing.

The first think to do would be to accert if you have the standard suspension arms for a 1980 Bagheera ( this could have been changed for another model by a previous owner) If not ...

Then, provide the head of the driveshaft is the correct one, yes, as Matra-Hans is pointing, the middle part needs to be of the good lenght.

Some things to verify which can help you :Since September 1979, to differentiate the types of driveshafts, they used 2 additional codes :a color touch on the tubea 2 letters code stamped (2 if renovated, 1 if new part) This will give you the car model type.

Anyway, this old stock might still interest other matra enthousiasts.I'm currently looking for driveshafts for the 2 different gearboxes ( not automatic) for a 1590 cc solara (usual citroen gearbox and the Peugeot BE1)

For your Bagheera-cafť account, I just activated it.French will soon not be a problem.

A not so quick answer...Last week I took apart my drive shafts to change the rubber gaitors. According to my work shop manual, the drive shaft can only be opened from the gearbox side.

Take off the spring clamp that holds the rubber gaitor and pull off the drive shaft end.Fix the balls to the triaxe with tape and pull the triaxe off using an extractor. Be shure to mark the position of the triaxe on the splines in order to put it back in exactly the same position.Pull off the rubber gaitor .Take off the spring holding the gaitor on the wheel side of the drive shaft and pull off that gaitor.Clean the parts and use new greese when you assemble the drive shaft.

I suppose there must be some way to take apart the outer drive shaft end. I did not have to, so I did not try.

First remove the spring holding the outer side of the gaiter. Press the rubber to the center of the driveshaft (out of the way)Then clean the old grease. Take a long flat screwdrive with a small head and an hammer.There is a triangular shaped spring holding the wheel side of the driveshaft. By looking carefully in between the shaft and his head, you will see that the 3 extremities of this spring is hold in the shaft.With the screwdriver, you can knock it out.

Difficult to describe but quite easy to take appart. (Must be much more difficult to put back together)I believe I've posted a picture of this, somewhere on the Bagheera cafť.